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Few stone pelting incidents took place: Police

Srinagar: After the mandatory congregational Friday prayers, clashes and protests were reported from several places across the Valley against the Chadoora civilian killings that took place on Tuesday, this week.
Notably, the resistance leadership including Hurriyat (G) Chief, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chief, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik had called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers.
The Fateha Khawani of Chadoora and Rangreth slain civilians were also held after the Friday prayers ended in the areas in which hundreds of people participated and prayed for their heavenly abode.
Following the congregational Fateha Khawani, the clashes erupted in the areas during which forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth.
Meanwhile, as soon as the mandatory congregational prayers ended in the Masjid’s, clashes and protests were reported from several areas across the Valley.
According to KNS correspondent, after Friday prayers, scores of JKLF leaders in Maisuma area of Srinagar assembled at main Chowk and raised pro-freedom slogans and against the civilian killings.
The leaders tried to march towards the Commercial Hub Lal Chowk but the police didn’t allow them to move onwards thereby resulted in the clashes in the area during which forces used teargas canisters to disperse the youth who were throwing stones on them.
According to KNS correspondent, clashes were also reported in Nowhatta, Chattabal and Habba Kadal areas of Srinagar.
Meanwhile, in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the clashes were reported in Bijbehara town during which forces restored to tear smoke shells to disperse the youth who were throwing stones on them.
In Pulwama district, the clashes were reported from Tral, Prichoo and Chaatpora areas of Pulwama district.
Meanwhile, the clashes and protests were also reported in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Reports said that the youth assembled outside the Jami Masjid and raised anti-India slogans following which the youth pelted stones on the forces triggering clashes.
They added that scores of people were also injured during the clashes.
Pertinently, the protest was called by the resistance leadership against the Chadoora civilian killings.
Three youth and a militant were killed during the clashes and an encounter in Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a top police official told KNS that the barring a few stone pelting incidents, the situation across the Valley remained under control throughout the day. (KNS)

Srinagar: Alleging betrayal by the successive J&K governments, the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) today said it would not campaign for any party for the byelections to the Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies next month.“Unlike the past, the APSCC does not want the members of the Sikh community to vote for a particular party or candidate during the bypolls. Sikhs are free to vote for anybody, and in case they deem it fit not to vote, the APSCC would not force them to change their decision,” APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said while addressing a press conference here.When asked if the Sikhs would boycott the elections, he said boycotting the polls would too mean favouring “someone” and the political parties were only “fooling” the people.Raina regretted that all parties at the helm had failed to fulfil their long-pending demand of granting minority status to the Sikhs in J&K.“Sikhs had traditionally voted for the National Conference but they never fulfilled our demands. Then we voted for the PDP when former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed promised us the minority status. During the last elections, we were clear that we will vote for the PDP… but they only fool the people,” he added.Raina pointed out that the state government opposed the granting of minority status to Sikhs in the Supreme Court recently. Claiming that several segments going to the polls were dependent on the Sikh vote, Raina said: “Since many of the PDP members won elections on the basis of Sikh votes, these legislators should resign on moral grounds. Some of the seats from which the PDP won were traditionally NC bastions and it was due to the Sikh voters that PDP members emerged victorious.”Denying minority status to Sikhs could lead to an agitation, Raina warned, adding that denial of due rights to minorities had led to “devastation in Haryana and the same cannot be ruled out in J&K”.

‘Centre must initiate talks on K-crisis’ 

Stating that the situation in the Kashmir valley was “very tricky”, the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) also urged the Centre to initiate a dialogue process with the stakeholders concerned so that the situation could become normal. The APSCC chairman said using brute force against the protesters would alienate the people, especially youth, from the mainstream. (Tribune News Service)

Recently at a function in Mumbai, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti invited the audience to attend the Tulip festival in Srinagar, that begins on April 1. While inviting guests to Srinagar, the chief minister assured that peace was back in the valley and tourists should come and enjoy the beauty of the state. During last summer, we all witnessed how violence rocked the entire valley, killing more than a hundred civilians and security personnel.

The state administration is hoping that this year things would be different. But all is not well in the valley. With regular, infiltration of terrorists from across the border and clash between the civilians and security personnel, things are far from normal in the state currently. We bring you a glimpse of the natural beauty of the state and everyday trouble and chaos in the lives of the residents of the valley.

These lovely tulips As the spring sets in and flowers are in full bloom, the Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to host guests at a first-of-its-kind 15-day festival to showcase the treasures of Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar.

It’s a record: 20 lakh tulips

The festival will be hosted at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, overlooking the scenic Dal Lake. The garden has more than 20 lakh tulips of 46 varieties and its opening marks the beginning of tourism season in the valley.

Enjoy the beauty of Kashmir!

The mega tulip festival will be a part of Bahaar-e-Kashmir (Spring in Kashmir) event to showcase Asia’s largest tulip garden in the summer capital of Srinagar. At the festival site, decorated kiosks and stalls will showcase rich handicrafts and cuisine of the valley with traditional, ethnic touch.

So beautiful! Are they real?

On the sidelines of this mega festival, an ‘Aalmi Mushaira’ event will be held wherein world famous poets will enthral the audience with their latest Urdu compositions. This too would be first-of-its-kind in the Valley.

Iqra who is from the remote Dangivacha area of neighbouring militancy prone Sopore in north Kashmir learnt how to bat by just watching Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. She has written many letters to Virat, which were never delivered, asking him to guide her.

If Dangal was a movie on cricket, it could well have been based on 17-year-old Iqra Rasool’s life. The super girl from Kashmir is a cricketing sensation.

A true all-rounder

Iqra who is from the remote Dangivacha area of neighbouring militancy prone Sopore in north Kashmir learnt how to bat by just watching Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. She has written many letters to Virat, which were never delivered, asking him to guide her.

“I wanted to play cricket from my childhood, but now I am more into it, why? It will give me respect and name, what do you want to do? I want to play for the Indian cricket team”, said Iqra Rasool.

She is the star cricketer of government high school Dangivacha and it is not just the girls but even the boys who want to be in her team.

“When we play with her, we also learn a lot, she has such great talent, we can’t compete with her”, said Aaqib class 12 Student of Dangivacha higher secondary school.

“She has got huge talent, if she gets some party which lifts her up and provides her facilities, she will do very well”, said Manoj Singh, coach of Iqra.

But life so far hasn’t really been a cake-walk. The youngest of six siblings, Iqra was taunted and faced opposition from her own family. So much so that she had to hide her cricket gear.

The constant threat of militancy didn’t help. First selected in the girls team of her school, Iqra went on to represent her district and finally the state.

“I go to practise by hiding my bat under my phiran- where do you go to practise? Here only in the school in the evenings- every day? Yes almost every day- why do you hide your bat? I am asked not to play- who tells you- the villagers- but you don’t agree, you go ahead- yes”, said Iqra Rasool.

Iqra has dreams in her eyes, she wants to represent the county at the international arena, but despite the huge talent that she has, the road ahead may not be easy for her, all she needs is help support and encouragement. (NDTV)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaid Thursday said that bullets don’t see who they hit and emphasised that youths coming to encounter sites are “indeed committing suicide”. 

Police chief’s remarks came after the outrage over the killing of three civilians in forces firing in Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday.

“Bullet does not see who is coming or who it will hit. Young boys should stay at homes and not come to encounter sites,” he appealed.

“Even security forces in an encounter take cover of a vehicle, house. Youths coming to encounter site are committing suicide. It is highly probable that they might end up getting shot.,” added DGP Vaid.

Srinagar: The joint resistance leadership comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhamamd Yasin Malik have called for a state-wide shutdown on April 2, the day PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Chenani-Nashri tunnel.

The said leaders issued a statement and urged people to observe protest shutdown against Modi’s visit.

Modi is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir for inaugurating Chenani-Nashri tunnel.

Srinagar: Terming the killing of three youths in forces firing in Chadoora area of Budgam district today as “target killing and cold blooded murder” PDP MLA Javed Mustafa Mir asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who also heads the Home department, to lodge an FIR against the culprits.
Talking to KNS he said, “It is a target killing and a cold blooded murder. Mehbooba Mufti should order the police to lodge an FIR against the culprits immediately. Those responsible for these killings should be given exemplary punishment.”
Even if people were pelting stones on forces, you don’t have a licence to kill them with bullets. Do they (forces) have licence to kill people who raise voice against them?” he asked. (KNS)

“Our young sons are being killed with impunity but no one among International community seems to bother.”

Srinagar: The incarcerated chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) on Tuesday paid tributes to civilians who were killed during the clashes near an encounter site in Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
JKLF chairman in a statement issued to KNS said, “Our young sons are being killed with impunity but no one among International community seems to bother.”
While condemning the attack on civilians, JKLF chairman said, “Callousness of police was evident at Jahangeer Chowk where police even did not spare the dead body of slain youth and used their brute force against his mourning relatives.”
JKLF chief said that the sacrifices of these youth will never go in vain and Kashmiris will keep resisting this ‘oppression’ with passion and zeal.
While praying for the speedy recovery of dozens injured today, JKLF chairman expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.
JKLF chief also paid tributes to those who embraced martyrdom at Chadoora and Padgampora.
Malik while condemning the nocturnal raid on JKLF leader Muhammad Yasin Butt’s residence and ‘harassing’ his family said, “Police last late night raided the residence of JKLF zonal senior vice president Muhammad Yasin Butt’s residence. Yasin Butt was not at his home but police barged into his house, searched entire house and harassed his wife and 10 year old son.”
Terming these raids and spree of arrests as ‘undemocratic’ and ‘police highhandedness’, JKLF chairman said that scores of JKLF leaders and activists including including JKLF zonal organizer Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri (PSA), District president Ganderbal Bashir Ahmad Rather (Boya)(PSA), Abdul Sattar (district president Kulgam), Mushtaq Ahmad Mir (PSA), Molvi Reyaz (PSA),Faisal Aslam(PSA), Zahoor Ahmad Khan , Ashiq Hussain (PSA), Tanveer Ahmad Ilahi (PSA) , Jan Muhammad Parray, Irfan Ahmad Khan are languishing in jails and police stations under PSA or other acts and are facing hardships in jails.
He said jails and police stations have been filled with thousands of elderly and young only to stage the ‘drama of elections’.
Malik said, “A farce process that is done after snatching democratic rights of Lakhs has no value at all and people of south and central Kashmir will boycott these elections with passion and zeal.”
Meanwhile, JKLF delegations visited Belew in Pulwama, Nanzneenpor in Shupian, Beehama, Vakoora and Khan pora in Ganderbal and Zalangam, Kokernagh, Reshibazar, KMD Adda, Achabal Adda in Islamabad and Safakadal, Nawabbazar, Chatabal, Headwun Chowk in Srinagar and asked people to boycott upcoming Indian elections.
JKLF activists and leaders throughout these areas went house to house and met people personally, distributed leaflets and poster of united resistance leadership and appealed people to stay away from upcoming election in Islamabad and Srinagar.